Are We Close to Finding the Fountain of Youth?
I am sure many of us have heard about Ponce de Leon‘s futile search for the magic fountain of youth. Researchers have been searching for the Methuselah gene, named after biblical character who lived till 969 years of age. They are hoping to find the answer, and solution to what is universally certain that our lives eventually lead to, no mater how healthy we are, to that inevitable death by old age.
Unfortunately most people die a premature death as a result of lifestyle induced illnesses rather than plain old age, making the research more difficult for scientist seeking genetic clues to the longevity of life for lack of subjects to do studies on.
According to Dr. Henne Holstege of VU University Medical Center in Netherlands and her cohorts, stem cell exhaustion may be the reason why the body can’t survive indefinitely. They made this conclusion after studying the body of 115 year old woman who donated here body to science. She was free from illnesses when she died. She did not suffer from vascular or dementia related pathology.
In the human body there is dynamic process of cells damage and cell repair or cell replacement. A good example of this is the blood cells. The red blood cells has a life span of 120 days, but is constantly replaced by new cells produced in the bone morrow. You notice when you take a bath your skin sheds off when rub it hard. This active replenishment of damage or dead is brought about by stem cells. Sometimes these cells mutated to cells with growth out control and become cancer cells.
In a abstract from the Nature Cell biology it says, “Impairment of stem cell function contributes to the progressive deterioration of tissue maintenance and repair with aging. Evidence is mounting that age-dependent accumulation of DNA damage in both stem cells, and cells that comprise the stem cell microenvironment are partly responsible for stem cell dysfunction with aging.”
In a 115 years old lady Dr. Henne Holstege and fellow researchers were surprised at the time of her death, the peripheral blood showed only two types of hematopoietic (blood cell) stem cells, were normally there should been 1,300. What this suggests is that if a person can live to old age with out any complicating heath factors they will come to the point were stem cells have been completely exhausted that could no longer divide and replenish damage or dying cells. This stem cell exhaustion could very well be the root cause of death due to old age.
We consider the old age as cause of death in the population are very few. Many of the deaths could be attributed to lifestyle caused illnesses, due environmental and ingestion of hazardous materials.
Lifestyle changes like avoiding tobacco, increasing physical activity, and eating healthier could significantly reduce deaths in the United States, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The the 5 leading causes of death in the US are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and unintentional injuries. These 5 account for 63% – or almost 900,000 – deaths each year in people under age 80. According to the CDC, about 20% to about 40% of deaths from each of these causes could be prevented.
The implications from this finding raises questions such as what the effects of nutrition, toxic materials ingested, exercise, illnesses, medications, radiation and other factors on the health of these stem cells causing it them to diminish over time. Even if there is success in correcting the problem of this age related diminished stem cells, it is still important to live a healthy life style to stay in optimum state of health otherwise one would still die of illnesses prematurely. There are now efforts made to replenish these stem cells with laboratory nurtured cells, the results in this research though promising are still non conclusive.
California scientists have tweaked two genetic pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans worms and extended their lifespan about 6-7 times. That would be the equivalent of 400-500 years in the human life span. The next stage of their research is applying their findings to mice to see if it would lead to increase in their life span too. It would we nice if we had the technology to extend our life span. The retirement age may have to adjusted to 350 years!
Yes, that’s correct. The impact of aging on stem cells is an active area of research in the field of regenerative medicine and aging biology. Stem cells are essential for tissue repair and regeneration throughout an organism’s life, but their function can be affected by the aging process. Here are some key points related to the effects of aging on stem cells:
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Decline in Stem Cell Function: With age, there is a decline in the regenerative capacity of stem cells. This decline is observed in various tissues and organs, and it can contribute to the reduced ability of the body to repair and maintain itself.
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Reduced Proliferation and Differentiation: Aging can lead to a decrease in the proliferation (reproduction) of stem cells and their ability to differentiate into specialized cell types. This can result in a diminished pool of functional cells available for tissue repair and maintenance.
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Changes in Stem Cell Niches: The microenvironment or niche surrounding stem cells plays a crucial role in regulating their function. Aging can alter the stem cell niche, impacting the signals and support that stem cells receive, further influencing their behavior.
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Accumulation of DNA Damage: Over time, stem cells can accumulate genetic mutations and DNA damage, which can impair their function and contribute to age-related decline. This DNA damage may result from various factors, including exposure to environmental stressors and the natural wear and tear of cellular processes.
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Epigenetic Changes: Aging is associated with changes in epigenetic regulation, which can influence how genes are turned on or off. Epigenetic alterations can affect the behavior of stem cells, including their ability to self-renew and differentiate.
Understanding the mechanisms underlying the aging of stem cells is crucial for developing strategies to enhance their regenerative potential and mitigate age-related degeneration. Researchers are exploring various approaches, such as rejuvenating aged stem cells, modifying their niches, and utilizing advanced technologies like CRISPR to address age-related changes in stem cell function.
So could we now say, you are as old as your stem cell. We maybe close to finding the fountain of youth, but it would not benefit us if we do not maintain a healthy lifestyle because we could die prematurely not of old age.
Worried about dying of old age? The truth is most of us will die due preventable causes other than old age.
